Dispensing device



Nov. 10, 1936. M. WITTNER DISPENSING DEVICE Filed NOV. 27, 1934 INYENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 10, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a non-refillable container from which measured quantities of the contents of the container may be dispensed.

It is an object of the invention to provide a container of this character wherein the contents of the container may be segregated from the measured quantity that is to be dispensed during the dispensing operation,

It is a further object of the invention to so construct the container that it may not be refilled either when communication is established or destroyed between the main supply and the dispensing chamber.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the container, partly broken away;

Figure 2- is a section on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figures 4 and 5 are fragmentary views of a modification of the invention; and

Figure 6 is a view of another modification.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing I have shown the invention as applied to a bottle but it is to be understood that it is not to be so confined.

The bottle includes a neck I having a liquid outlet aperture 2 and an air inlet aperture 3 and which is made separate from the body of the bottle but adapted to be secured thereto as for instance by screw threads 4 and glass cement.

A cap 5 is mounted on the upper end of the neck I by screw threaded engagement 6 which screw threads are of steep pitch. A stem 1 depends from the cap 5 and is provided near its upper end with a valve, 8 which is adapted to open and close the apertures 2 and 3 as it moves longitudinally in the neck of the bottle. For the sake of easy assembly I have made this valve 8, which is preferably of cork, of two parts as shown in Figure 2. It is held in place longitudinally on the stem 1 by a flange 9 and the cap 5-and it is prevented from rotating with relation to the stem by webs formed on the stem 1, or by any other suitable means. This valve 8 snugly fits the inside diameter of the neck of the bottle so that it may effectively close the apertures 2 and 3. In fact a forced fit is preferable.

At the lower end of the stem 1 a valve I8 is provided which valve is also close fitting in the neck of the bottle and is provided with a seat H which is adapted to engage the inner Wall of the bottle beyond the neck portion. This valve it is prevented from rotating with relation to the stem 7 by reason ot the fact that the stem 1 is angular in cross-section and engages snugly in a similarly formed aperture in the valve.

The valve In is prevented from longitudinal movement upwardly on the stem 1 by a washer l2 that engages an abutment l3 on the stem and it is held on the stem by a washer and nut or some other suitable means M.

It is to be noted that the length of the stem 1 and the arrangement of the valves 8 and H] are such that, when the valve 8 is in position to close the apertures 2 and 3, the Valve I is in position to permit the establishment of communication between the neck of the bottle and the body portion thereof and that, when the valve 8 is in such position that the apertures 2 and 3 are open, the valve I!) will be in position to destroy the communication between the neck of the bottle and the body portion thereof.

Thus when the valve I8 is closed the valve 8 will be open and the measured quantity of the contents of the container located in the neck I may be dispensed.

By the same token, the neck of the bottle may be refilled by forcing liquid through the aperture 2 (or 3) until the neck is filled. The valve I0 may then be opened and the liquid permitted to flow into the body of the container. By repeating this operation the bottle may be refilled.

However to prevent the refilling of the neck of the bottle in the manner I have described above I have provided a floating valve l that is loosely inserted on the stem 1 for free lateral movement, the longitudinal movement only being extensive enough to permit the free lateral movement.

This floating valve I5 is of only slightly less diameter than the inside diameter of the neck of the bottle. It is sufiiciently less to permit the liquid to flow freely from the outlet aperture 2 when the valve is aligned therewith but yet is not sufiiciently less to permit the insertion of a tube to either inject fluid beyond the valve or permit egress of the air from the neck.

This valve I5 is supported by supports [6 that are carried by the valve Ill so that the valve will move with the valve 8, the valve [0 and the stem 1 as a unit.

In assembling this form of the invention the stem 1, free of the valves 8, l0 and i5 is inserted partly into the neck of the bottle until the flange 9 is about flush with the upper end of the neck. The sections of the valve 8 are then snapped into place and the valve 8 then pushed into the neck through pressure applied to the cap 5. From the open lower end of the neck the valve I5 is then placed, followed by the washer I2 and supports l 6, and by the valve 10 and is secured in place by the nut [4. Thus assembled, after the neck is secured to the body of the bottle, the mechanism may not be removed from the container without destroying the latter.

In operation, when the parts are in the positions shown in Figure l and the liquid outlet aperture closed, the bottle may be tilted so that the neck of the bottle will be filled from the body of the container. The valve ill at this time will be open and the valve 8 will close both the apertures 2 and 3. The cap 5 may then be given a part turn and because of the steep pitch of the threads 6, will move the valve I0 into the neck of the bottle so that the opening into the body of the bottle will be entirely closed. At this time the valve 8 will not have uncovered the apertures 2 and 3. The continued movement of the cap 5 will cause the movement of the valve 8 to such an extent that the apertures 2 and 3 will be uncovered and the liquid in the neck of the bottle will be permitted to fiow from the aperture 2. As the valve 8 moves to a position to uncover the apertures 2 and 3 the valve I0 will be drawn further into the neck of the bottle until when the valve 8 uncovers the apertures 2 and 3 the seat ll of the valve I0 will have seated.

Thus the measured quantities of the contents of the bottle may be dispensed.

While the aperture 2 is open the valve ii! is closed so that access cannot be had to the body of the container for refilling purposes. Were it not for my invention it would, however, be possible to fill the neck of the bottle and by steps the entire container.

If an attempt is made to force liquid through the aperture 2 (or 3) into the neck of the container the pressure will cause the floating valve l5 to move into position to close the air aperture 3 or 2. Thus the escape of the air will be prevented and filling made impossible from a practical point of view. The floating valve [5 is so close to the inner wall of the neck of the bottle that to insert an air vent tube into the neck through the aperture 2 will be impossible.

Thus from a practical point of view the refilling of the bottle will be impossible.

In the form of the invention that I have described the neck of the bottle is described as separate from the body portion. This is necessary because of the necessity of assembling the valves l0 and [3 from the bottom of the stem 1.

However I have invented a modification of the invention that makes it possible to use a one part bottle or container and in which the mechanism is assembled entirely through the neck opening of the bottle.

In Figure 5, instead of having a valve made of one piece of material, such as cork, I have shown it as made of several expansible sections I! that are pushed apart by resilient or some other satisfactory means I8.

Thus the valve may be secured to the stem 1 and inserted through the neck until it reaches the body of the container. As the valve passes through the neck of the bottle the sections will be retracted but when it passes into the body of the bottle they will expand and will act as a seat and also will prevent the widthdrawal of the mechanism from the bottle.

In the form shown in Figure 6 the same form of valve as is shown in the form of Figure 1 is used except that the seat portion I l is not so extensive. In Figure l the seat portion II is extensive enough so that it acts to retain the mechanism in its assembled condition. However, in the form of Figure 6 the seat portion ll, while slightly larger than the diameter is nevertheless compressible so that it may be forced through the neck of the bottle and then expand to form a seat.

In order to prevent the withdrawal I have pivoted multiple (although one is sufiicient) latches l2 that will lie in the dotted line positions while the mechanism is being inserted through the neck but will drop into the full line positions shown in which positions they will be automatically latched as shown.

What I claim is:

1. In a device for dispensing a measured quantity of liquid, a chamber having an outlet opening and an inlet opening, a cap in screw threaded engagement with the chamber, a stem carried by and rotatable with the cap, a valve for the outlet opening carried by the stem, and a valve for the inlet opening carried by the stem and rotatable therewith and in spaced relation to the firstmentioned valve.

2. In a device for dispensing a measured quantity of liquid, a chamber having an outlet opening and an inlet opening, a cap in screw threaded engagement with the chamber, a stem carried by and rotatable with the cap, webs on the stem, a two-part valve mounted on said stem and engaging said webs, a fiange for supporting the valve on the webs, a second valve carried by said stem in spaced relation to the first-mentioned valve and means for securing the second-mentioned valve against rotation on the stem.

MICHAEL WIT'INER. 

